Colorado Health Insurance Insider

No-cost broker assistance.

Blog

Another Response to Mike Rosen

By

The Rocky Mountain News printed a response to Mike Rosen’s article “No ‘crisis’ of uninsured”.  It’s not really as much a response to the points Mr. Rosen gave as much as the same figures you’ve read in the health policy blogosphere already.  It was written by Dr. Gary D. VanderArk, president of the Coalition for… Read more about Another Response to Mike Rosen

Universal Health Care and the Colorado Health Insurance Industry

By

A very hopeful Bill Ritter was inaugurated as the new Governor of Colorado on tuesday.  He campaigned about changing the healthcare system in Colorado in order to help the 700,000 Coloradoans without health insurance.  And in his inaugural speech, he reminded us that because he is “here for the people of Colorado”, he’ll actually do… Read more about Universal Health Care and the Colorado Health Insurance Industry

Our Flawed Healthcare System

By

If you live in Colorado and don’t get your health insurance from your employer, finding health insurance can be difficult and confusing. The reason is because it’s not like shopping for any other insurance, financial, or retail product in the marketplace.  In Colorado, you have two choices: an underwritten individual/family plan a non-underwritten plan like… Read more about Our Flawed Healthcare System

Cavalcade of Risk – New Years Edition

By

The Healthcare Economist makes his New Years resolutions with an interesting edition of the Cavalcade of Risk.  This edition really sticks to health insurance and public policy issues relating to healthcare.  The Colorado Health Insurance Insider is included in this edition.  But my favorite article is about Jon Swift’s compassion toward John Derbyshire, who had an… Read more about Cavalcade of Risk – New Years Edition

Ritter Names Manitou Springs Mayor Insurance Commissioner

By

Gov.-elect Bill Ritter just appointed Marcy Morrison, the mayor of Manitou Springs, Colorado’s new Insurance Commissioner.  The Colorado Springs Gazette reports that the Republican, who has served as a state lawmaker and El Paso County commissioner, will oversee regulation of the state’s insurance industry. Morrison said she has some ideas for the new job, but… Read more about Ritter Names Manitou Springs Mayor Insurance Commissioner

Tonik Rate Increase for Colorado Effective February 1, 2007

By

In 2005, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Colorado launched Tonik, three simple, affordable and comprehensive individual PPO plans with a quick online application designed specifically for uninsured 20-somethings. So far, Tonik has done very well – in fact, 60 percent of Tonik applicants were previously uninsured, and 75 percent of Tonik applicants are… Read more about Tonik Rate Increase for Colorado Effective February 1, 2007

SEC Probes United Healthcare

By

I don’t think anybody will be surprised by the news that the SEC is looking into United Healthcare after their ex-CEO William McGuire’s stock option mess. McGuire was appointed president and CEO of what was then United Healthcare Corp. in 1989, then named chairman and CEO in 1991. Acquisitions he engineered helped United Healthcare rise… Read more about SEC Probes United Healthcare

Putting the Uninsured Numbers in Perspective

By

DavidHunnicutt.com just wrote an article putting the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation study on the uninsured in the U.S. in perspective. 46,100,000 out of 300,000,000 people in this country are without health insurance. Leaving 15% of the population, or 1 in 6, uninsured. If you factor out the number of Americans over age 65, the… Read more about Putting the Uninsured Numbers in Perspective

President Signs HSA Bill – What Do You Think?

By

President Bush signed the Health Opportunity Empowerment Act of 2006 yesterday, enhancing possible tax relief to those with an HSA.  According to Treasury Assistant Secretary for Tax Policy Eric Solomon, the new bill “makes it easier for participants to put money aside for their personal health care”.  What do you think? “As soon as I’m able… Read more about President Signs HSA Bill – What Do You Think?

President Bush Signs HSA Bill

By

President George W. Bush signed the Health Opportunity Patient Empowerment Act of 2006 today, enhancing Americans’ access to tax- advantaged health care savings. The law, part of the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006, provides new opportunities for health savings account (HSA) participants’ to build their funds. “Health savings accounts are improving the… Read more about President Bush Signs HSA Bill

Specialty Drugs Boost Health Insurance Premiums in Colorado

By

Health insurance premiums in Colorado and the rest of the country are expected to increase by at least 10% in 2007, driven mainly by the cost of expensive specialty drugs. An article I just read from the Associated Press (published by the Insurance Journal) said that specialty drugs accounted for 19 %, or about $40 billion worth of pharmaceutical… Read more about Specialty Drugs Boost Health Insurance Premiums in Colorado

Universal Private Health Insurance for All

By

In a previous article on the Colorado Health Insurance Insider, we were excited about Gov.-elect Bill Ritter’s promise to provide health insurance to the 760,000 residents of Colorado that are uninsured, but skeptical of universal health insurance plans recently enacted in other states. However, I’ve since reviewed a new plan by Senator Ron Wyden (D OR)… Read more about Universal Private Health Insurance for All

Health Wonk Review #22

By

You’ll find the latest edition of the Health Wonk Review over at the MSSP Nexus blog.  The Colorado Health Insurance Insider gets mentioned with Louise’s opinion of what needs to be done to fix the health care crisis in this country.  You’ll also find an article by InsureBlog, which comments on what a county in California is actually… Read more about Health Wonk Review #22

What Needs To Be Done

By

There is a crisis in the American health care system.  The government got very excited about health savings accounts a couple years ago, but HSAs have not fixed anything.  There are 41 million uninsured people in this country – and that doesn’t count everyone who’s already on government-sponsored Medicare and Medicaid.  It is not uncommon… Read more about What Needs To Be Done

Alternatives to Prescriptions for Common Ailments

By

I recently read two articles touting alternatives to prescriptions for very common medical scenarios.  The first was about treating depression, the second was about treating ear infections in children.  Antidepressants and antibiotics for ear infections are very close to the top of the list of most frequently mentioned prescriptions when we ask Colorado health insurance clients about their… Read more about Alternatives to Prescriptions for Common Ailments

Big News for HSAs

By

Over the weekend, Congress passed huge new changes in HSA Legislation, it only needs the President’s signature to become law. With an effective date of 2007 for the law, we wanted to make Colorado Health Insurance Insider readers aware of the possible changes. All of the legislation is an improvement for HSAs and includes the following. Full HSA Deduction. The new… Read more about Big News for HSAs

Eagle County Colorado Offering Same Sex Partner Benefits

By

Eagle County, in the Colorado mountains, will begin offering health insurance benefits to their employees’ same sex partners, provided the couple meets the same “common law” guidelines required for heterosexual couples to obtain benefits.  Same sex partner benefits are becoming more common among private companies, but Eagle County is the first public (ie, tax-payer funded)… Read more about Eagle County Colorado Offering Same Sex Partner Benefits

Anthem Blue Cross of Colorado Small Group Health Insurance News

By

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield health insurance recently announced the expansion of their HMOSelect network in Colorado to Elbert, El Paso and Teller counties effective November 1, 2006. What this means For cost-conscious Small Group employers, there’s bound to be an HMOSelect plan that fits their unique needs. These employers can make the most… Read more about Anthem Blue Cross of Colorado Small Group Health Insurance News

Health Insurance For All Colorado Citizens by 2010

By

America’s health system is breaking down and health costs are increasing more than five times the earnings increase for Colorado workers.  HSAs were introduced in 2004 as a way to cut down on over-utilization, but they aren’t gaining wide acceptance, they don’t really help the problem anyway, and they won’t work.  But there is a more progressive… Read more about Health Insurance For All Colorado Citizens by 2010

Mullets, Cotton Candy, and Ringtoss…

By

Yup, it’s carnival time! Yesterday, Emily of The Antidote hosted a very well written Grand Rounds.  She included Louise’s article “Wasting Health Care Dollars”.  She comments… Colorado Health Insurance Insider bemoans the waste of money from “routine” childbirth procedures like episiotomy (no longer recommended as a routine procedure, by the way) and unindicated cesarean sections…. Read more about Mullets, Cotton Candy, and Ringtoss…